The Generous Gardener is a named rose (in 2002) by the great British rosarian, David Austin, in honour of the National Garden Scheme. Many local gardens are open this time of year, not only under the flagship of the NGS scheme. This last weekend, I had the pleasure of visiting the gardens in the Peacehaven Open Gardens weekend, which was raising funds for St. Wilfred's Hospice in Eastbourne. If you missed it, make a note in your diary for next year!. Always a source of pleasure to enjoy tea, cake and help raise monies for a good cause, and invariably pick up tips and planting ideas from fellow gardeners. As well as some sales of plants there were also art works for sale. Some truly generous and talented gardeners at work! Congratulations to the members of Peacehaven Horticultural Club who made it all happen. Don't sit back and think it is all over either – the 8th Brighton Macmillan Coastal Trail will be along on the weekend 27th/28th July, so we wish them good weather for that weekend also.
Roses often form the backbone of the traditional British cottage garden. The patio rose is a very versatile and easy rose to grow with the minimal pruning requirements. In pots, they make the perfect filler, summer gift or plant for a small sunny space and they are about to put on their show. ‘Raspberry Royale’, ‘Sweet Dream’ (a peachy/apricot) and ‘Carefree Days’ (a powdery light pink) are all choice varieties, but it is worth picking out a few varieties to complement your own colour scheme.
If you need a little height to your scheme, then the patio standards will do the trick. Look out too for larger planters of rose Arthur Bell, (sometimes called Golden Bouquet), a perfect gift for a Golden wedding or just to lift the spirits.
Mark Curtis
Plant Manager, Tates of Sussex
For more gardening tips for the month, please visit https://www.tatesofsussex.co.uk/gardening/gardening-tips
